Material handling device

ABSTRACT

A pneumatic card pick-up member is moved between first and second positions. In the first position the member picks up a card. In the second position the card is removed from the member by two rollers that tilt the card as it travels through them. The card pick-up member is stopped long enough in the first position for it to pick up a card. It is also stopped long enough in the second position for the card to be engaged between the two rollers and removed from the pick-up member. In between these positions, the pick-up member is moved rapidly.

I United States Patent [151 3,659,838 Davis [4 May 2, 1972 [54] MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE 3,202,421 8/1965 Ganz ..271/51 [72] Inventor: Russell L. Davis, Richardson, Tex. Primary Examiner Edward A sroka 73 1 Assignee: J. w. Hassell, Jr., Dallas County, Tex. n yv n h T mp n & T n [22] Filed: June 12, 1970 [57 ABSTRACT [21 1 Appl- 45,852 A pneumatic card pick-up member is moved between first and second positions. In the first position the member picks up a 52 U.S. Cl ..271/11, 271/26 cardthe Second P the card is removed from [51] Int CL 3/08 1365b 5/08 member by two rollers that tilt the card as it travels through [58] Field of Search ..27 1/1 1-12 26 them- The card member is StoPPed emugh first position for it to pick up a card It is also stopped long [56] References Cited enough in the second position for the card to be engaged between the two rollers and removed from the pick-up UNITED STATES PATENTS member. In between these positions, the pick-up member is moved rapidly. 2,383,807 8/1945 Luehrs ..27l/l2 3,166,31 l l/l965 Rabinow ....27 U12 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented May 2, 1972 2 Sheets-Shem 1 F/GZ Russell L. Davis INVE N TOR ATTORNEYS Patented May 2, 1972 3,659,838

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

Russell L 00 W5 INVENTOR yA WW ATTORNEYS MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE This invention relates to pneumatic devices that move relatively thin, flat-sided objects, such as data processing cards, one at a time from one location to another.

In a number of industries it is necessary to provide some type of device that can move relatively thin, flat-sided members one at a time from one location to another location very rapidly. Data processing cards, statements, checks, receipts, paper money, and mail are examples of flat-sided, card-shape objects that are frequently so moved between processing points. The flat-sided member need not be paper or cardboard, however. For instance, in the tinning process, sheets of metal are fed into the tinning process one at a time from stacks of the sheet.

In the data processing industry there is one particular problem to which this invention is particularly well adapted. Data processing cards are usually returned by the data processing machine in reverse order after being run through the machine. These cards must be restacked into their original order before they can be used again. Previously, the restacking of punch cards has been accomplished by using a thin blade moving at high speeds to physically knock the cards one at a time into a new stack. This type of restacking device has one important disadvantage: The punch cards may be damaged by the blade.

Pneumatic suction devices have also been used for restacking punch cards. These pneumatic devices included a pneumatic suction head for picking up one card at a time from the reverse order stack. The suction head with the card attached was then moved to a second position where the card was disposed. The suction head was rapidly oscillated between a pick-up position and a card removal position. The device had no means to slow down the suction head at the pick-up position so that the suction head continued its rapid speed even when in a position to pick up a card from the stack. Therefore, the suction head would be in engagement with the stack only momentarily. This meant that the suction force of the suction head had to be strong enough to pick up a card while the suction head moved rapidly during engagement of the head with the card. The strong suction forces created problems. The cards have perforations in them as well as some permeability and the suction head would on occasion pick up two cards instead of one. One solution was to reduce the suction force of the pick-up member, but then it would not be able to consistently pick up a card due to the short time it was in engagement therewith.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device having pneumatic means for picking up flat-sided members one at a time from a stack without disturbing the next member in the stack.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pneumatic material handling device that is of simple construction and that can be economically built.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device that can restack data processing cards rapidly without damaging the cards. I

It is a further object of this invention to provide a card pneumatic moving device wherein the pneumatic suction head of the device pauses when in engagement with the stack of data processing cards to be restacked for a sufiicient time for the top card to be firmly attached to the pneumatic suction head before moving the head, thereby allowing a suction force to be used that has less tendency to pick up more than one card.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pneumatic card handling device that includes rotating rollers that are positioned to receive a card between the rollers from the pickup means of the device and to discharge the card from between the rollers in a direction at an angle to the direction of travel of the card when it was first engaged by the rollers.

This invention has utility in moving any flat-sided member, as explained above; however, the embodiment shown in the drawings will be described in detail below in connection with the restacking or moving of flat, thin, relatively stiff cards, such as data processing cards.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of a card handling device constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the card handling device of FIG. 1 as seen along line 2-2 of FIG. I with the pneumatic pick-up means of the device in its card delivering or second position;

FIG. 3 is the same view as FIG. 2 with the pick-up means in its first or card pick-up position;

FIG. 4 is a side view in elevation, as seen along line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a side view in elevation, as seen along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

The device includes a frame means that comprises parallel, spaced sides 21a and 21b. In accordance with the invention, means are provided for picking up a relatively thin, flat-sided member, such as a data processing card. In the embodiment shown, such means comprise horizontally disposed pneumatic suction bar 11. The bar is a hollow tube closed at both ends. Openings 15 (shown dotted in FIG. 1) are spaced along the underside of the bar. Tube 17 connects the inside of the bar with a pump (not shown) that pulls air from the inside of the tube when openings 15 are blocked, as by card 16a in FIG. 2. When tube 17 is in contact with card 16a, such that openings 15 are blocked, the pressure in the bar will be reduced below atmospheric pressure and this pressure differential will cause card 16a to be attached to the bar by a force greater than its own weight. Preferably, openings 15 and the capacity of the pump are designed to provide a pressure differential during the time that the suction head is in engagement with the stack that will pick up only one card. As will be explained below, it is one of the features of this invention to hold the suction head in engagement with the stack for sufficient period of time for such a relatively low suction force to be used and thereby reduce the tendency of the head to pick up more than one card. As the data processing card is picked up, means are provided (not shown) to push the new top card in the stack to the position of the previous card so that the top card in the stack will always be in the proper position to be contacted by suction bar 11.

Means are provided for moving the pick-up means between a first position to pick up a data processing card, such as 160, from the reversed order stack 16 of data processing cards and a second position to deliver card 16a with a pause at each position, the pause being sufiicient to allow the card to be attached to the pneumatic pick-up means in the first position and to allow the card to be removed from the pick-up means in the second position. In the embodiment shown, such moving means includes L-shaped arms 12a and 12b. The arms are in spaced, parallel relationship. One end of each arm is attached to one end of suction bar 11 to support the suction bar between sides 21a and 21b of the frame means. The other ends of arms 12a and 12b are mounted on rod 20 that extends transversely between frame sides 21a and 21b for pivotal movement of the arms about the longitudinal axis of the rod to oscillate suction bar 1 1 between the first and second positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 2, respectively.

To oscillate the arms, first shaft 22 is mounted on the frame means for rotation around its longitudinal axis. Shaft 22 extends between frame sides 21a and 21b and through openings in arms 12a and 12b. Only opening 19 in arm 12b is shown; however, it should be understood that arm 12a has an opening identical to that in 12b. A first set of cams 13a and 13b are mounted on shaft 22 for rotation with the shaft. Cams 13a and 13b are positioned in the openings in arms 12a and 12b for engagement with side 25 or 26 of openings 19 in arm 12b and the opening in arm 12a. Cams 13a and 13b are identical in operation, just as arms 12a and 12b are identical in operation. Therefore, only one cam and only one arm, cam 13b and arm 12b, respectively, will be hereinafter discussed, since any discussion of this particular cam or arm applies to the cam and arm on the other side of the device.

First, cam 13b is known in the art as a cylindrical am. The cam has arcuate peripheral surface 23b having a relatively long radius of curvature and arcuate peripheral surface 24b having a relatively short radius of curvature with respect to shaft 22. Relatively straight sections 53b and 54b are on each side of and connect the long and short radius surfaces of each cam. Cam 13b is provided with this cylindrical cam shape so that the pick-up means will pause when curved peripheral surface 23b is in engagement with side 25 or 26 of opening 19 and arm 12b and move rapidly between positions when peripheral section 23b is moving from engagement with a side of opening 19.

The duration of the pause with respect to the time required for a complete rotation of cam 13b is determined by the angle of inmate surface 23b having the long radius of curvature. Therefore, the pause per revolution time of the cam may be adjusted for pneumatically picking up flat-sided members other than cards if a longer or shorter length of time is required by choosing a first cam having a longer or shorter length of the peripheral surface 23b. Surface 24b is designed to contact or be in immediate proximity to the opposite side of opening 19 at the same time that longer radius of curvature surface 23b is in contact with a side of opening 19. The proximity of cam surface 24a to the opposite side of opening 19 prevents arm 12a from .lurching when cam surface 24a first contacts side 25 or 26 of opening 19 as shaft 22 rotates the cam.

The operation of the card pick-up means during one rotation of first cam 13b is as follows. As shaft 22 rotates clockwise, suction bar 11 is disposed in contact with top card 16a of reverse order stack 16 and remains in that first position for sufficient time to pick up single card 16a. This hesitation period is accomplished by engagement of the peripheral surface 23b, having the long radius of curvature, of first cam 131) with side 26 of opening 19 of L-shaped arm 12b, as shown in FIG. 3, thereby maintaining suction bar 11 in the first position. If it is desired that suction bar 11 be maintained immediately adjacent rather than in contact with the top card in stack 16, then peripheral surfaces 23b and 24b of cam 13b may contact both sides 25 and 26, respectively, of opening 19 in arm 13b during the hesitation period. As shaft 22 rotates clockwise, peripheral surfaces 23b of first cam 13b moves out of engagement with side 25 of opening 19 causing rapid movement of arm 12 and suction bar 11 with attached card 16a to a second position for the suction bar. Continuing the rotation of shaft 22 and cam 13b, peripheral surfaces 23b engages side 25 of opening 19, as shown in FIG. 2, causing suction bar 11 to pause in the second position so that card 160 is removed. Rotating shaft 22 then moves peripheral surface 23b out of contact with side 26, thereby causing suction bar 11 to return to its first position immediately above reverse order stack 16.

Means are provided to remove the punch card from suction bar 11 when suction bar 11 is in the second position as shown in FIG. 2. In the preferred embodiment, the member removal means includes first roller 27 and second roller 28. Means are provided for mounting the rollers on the frame means for rotation around their longitudinal axis, including means mounting at least one of the rollers, roller 28, for pivotal movement of its longitudinal axis around the longitudinal axis of the other roller 27. The means for mounting the rollers on the frame means includes second shaft 30 that extends through frame sides 21 and 22 that support the shaft for rotation, thereby providing a longitudinal axis of rotation for roller 27 mounted on the shaft.

Arcuate slots 33 are cut into frame sides 21 and 22. Roller 28 is mounted upon shaft 32 that extends through slots 33. Means are provided to mount roller 28 for pivotal movement of its longitudinal axis, shaft 32, about the longitudinal axis, shaft 30, of roller 27. The means include a pivotal link 31a through which roller shafts 30 and 32 extend. Since the longitudinal axis of shaft 30 is supported by frame sides 21 and 22, roller 28 is pivotable about shafts of roller 27 through the path of slots 33 by the pivoting of link 31 about shaft 30.

Means for rotating rollers 27 and 28 in opposite directions around their longitudinal axes are provided by gears 40 and 41. Gears 40 and 41 are mounted in a meshed relationship for rotating upon shafts 30 and 32 of the rollers adjacent link 31a as shown in FIG. 4 in such a manner that rotation of gear 40 causes rotation in the opposite direction of shaft 32, gear 41 and roller 28.

Means are provided for moving pivotally mounted roller 28 within slots 33 between a first roller position as shown in FIG. 2 where the rollers are positioned to receive between the rollers a member, such as a data processing card, from the pickup means when the pick-up means is in its second position and a second roller position as shown in FIG. 3 to discharge the member from between the rollers at an angle to the direction of travel of the member when it was first engaged by the rollers. In the embodiment shown such moving means includes follower members 360 and 36b for causing roller 28 to move between its first and second positions as cam 34a and 34b are rotated. Follower arm 36a is operatively engaged with roller 28 by connection on one end by pin 42a to link 31a so that horizontal movement of the follower arm 36a will cause pivoting of second roller 28 about the axis of shaft 30 of first roller 27. The other end of follower arm 360 has a circular opening therein that fits over second cam 34a. Second cam 34a is mounted eccentrically on shaft 22 so that rotation of second cam 34a with shaft 22 provides follower member 36a with alternate periods of fast and slow movement causing oscillation of roller 28 between the first and second roller positions.

Thus a method of moving a plurality of relatively thin, flatsided members, such as a data processing card, from a first stack comprises the steps of holding a card pick-up means adjacent or in contact with top card 16a of stack 16, stopping the movement of the pick-up means for sufficient time to pick up a card, moving the card pick-up means to a second position, stopping the card pick-up means in said second position for sufficient time for the card to be removed, conveying the card to a disposal point, and returning the card pick-up means to the first stack in order to pick up another card The operation of the card removal means is as follows. As shaft 22 rotates eccentric 34a through the first roller position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, follower arm 36a is moved very slowly thereby causing link 31a and roller 28 to slow down allowing the rotating rollers to remove card 16a from pneumatic suction head 11. The slower movement of the rollers pivotally attached to the follower arm 36a is caused by section 50a rotating through a horizontal position with respect to shaft 22 thereby causing follower arm 36a to move very slowly. As eccentric cam 34a rotates clockwise with shaft 22, section 50a of eccentric 34a causes follower member 36 to accelerate causing second roller 28 to pivot upward to the second roller position of FIG. 3 so that card 16a may be released at an angle with respect to reversed order stack of cards 16. As second cam 34a continues to rotate clockwise, section 50a causes follower arm 36a, rigid member 31a, and thus second roller 28 to slow down at the second roller position while card is released. The pivoting upward of roller 28 and the releasing of the data processing card at an angle combines with the rotation of the rollers to break the card away from the forces of pneumatic suction of suction bar 11. Second roller 28 is then returned to the first roller position to remove another card from suction bar 11. Eccentric 34a causes slow horizontal movement of fol lower arm 36a when section 500 is substantially horizontal with respect to shaft 22 and rapid horizontal movement of fol lower arm 36a when surface 50a is substantially vertical with respect to shaft 22.

Driving means are provided for mounting first cams 13a and 13b and second cams 34a and 34b for rotation so that the pick-up means and the rollers may oscillate as herein described. In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 5, the rotating means includes driving gear 47 linked to driving gears 45 and 46 by belts 47 and 48 in order to provide the proper speed of rotation for first cams 13a and 13b and second cams 34a and 34b mounted on shaft 22 and for roller 27 mounted on shaft 30. Of course, any type of power may be used to drive shafts 22 and 30, as is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

First cams 13a and 13b and second cams 34a and 34b must be positioned on shaft so that suction bar 11 will stop in its second position during the precise period that the rollers have slowed down in the first roller position shown in FIG. 2. Also, the speed of rotation of the first roller shaft 30 and cam shaft 20 must be properly synchronized. This synchronization is accomplished by using gears having the proper diameter with respect to the diameter of main driving gear 47.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. A pneumatic handling device comprising frame means, pneumatic means for picking up a relatively thin flat-sided member, such as punch cards, means mounted on the frame means for moving the pick-up means between a first position to pick up such a member and a second position to deliver the member with a pause at each position, said moving means including an arm attached to the pick-up means and pivotally attached to the frame for moving the pick-up means between the first and second position as it oscillates about its pivotal axis, said arm having an opening therein spaced from said pivot point, a first cam mounted on the frame for rotation with its peripheral surface to engage opposite sides of the opening in the arm to cause the arm to oscillate and the pick-up means to move between said first and second positions with a pause at each position, as the cam is rotated, means for rotating the cam, and means to remove the member from the pick-up means when the pick-up means is in said second position.

2. The device of claim 1 which the peripheral surface of said first cam has a section with a relatively long radius of curvature and relatively straight sections on each side thereof so the pick-up means will pause at said first and second positions for the pick-up and removal of the member when the curved section is in engagement with one of the sides of the opening in the arm and will move rapidly to another of said positions when the curved section is moving from engagement with one side of the opening and into engagement with the opposite side.

3. A pneumatic handling device comprising frame means, pneumatic means for picking up a relatively thin flat-sided member, such as punch cards, means mounted on the frame means for moving the pick-up means between a first position to pick up such a member and a second position to deliver the member with a pause at each position, and means to remove the member from the pick-up means when the pick-up means is in said second position, said member removal means including first and second rollers, means mounting the rollers on the frame means for rotation around their longitudinal axes, means for rotating the rollers in opposite directions around their respective longitudinal axes, said mounting means including means mounting at least one of the rollers for pivotal movement of its longitudinal axis around the longitudinal axis of the other roller, means for moving the pivotally mounted roller between a first roller position where the rollers are positioned to receive between the two rollers a member from the pick-up means when the pick-up means is in its second position and a second roller position to discharge the member from between the rollers in a direction at an angle to the direction of travel of the member when it was first engaged by the rollers.

4. The device of claim 3 in which said roller moving means includes a second cam, means mounting the second cam for rotation, a follower member operatively engaged with the movable roller and the second cam for causing the roller to move between its first and second positions as the cam is rotated, and means for rotating the second cam to so move the movable roller.

5. A card handling device for moving cards, such as data processing cards, one at a time from a stack of such cards, comprising two frame sides, a cam shaft mounted on said frame sides for rotation relative thereto around its longitudinal axis, a cam mounted on and rotating with said cam shaft, said cam having a peripheral surface with an arcuate portion having a relatively long radius of curvature with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, an arcuate portion having a relatively short radius of curvature with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and generally straight portions connecting said two arcuate portions, an L-shaped arm positioned between the frame sides with one end mounted to pivot around an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cam shaft, said arm having an opening in which said cam is positioned for its peripheral surface to engage the sides of the opening, a suction bar attached to said L-shaped arm at a location spaced from its pivotal axis to pick up one card from the top of the stack of such cards, means for rotating the shaft in order to rotate said cam and oscillate the arm around its pivotal axis to move the suction bar between a first position in engagement with a stack of such cards with a pause in the movement of such arm when in such position that is sufficient to allow the top card to become attached to the suction bar and a second position where the card is removed from the suction bar with a pause in the movement of the bar at said second position, and means for so removing the card, said means comprising a first roller shaft mounted on said frame sides for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said first roller mounted on said first roller shaft for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said first roller shaft, a pivotal link mounted on said first roller shaft in such a manner that said link is pivotal about said first roller shaft longitudinal axis, said frame sides having arcuate slots, a second roller shaft extending through said arcuate slots and through said pivotal link in such a manner that said second roller is pivotal through said arcuate slots about the longitudinal axis of said first roller shaft, a gear mounted on each of said first and second roller shafts in such a manner that rotation of said one of said gears causes the other of said gears to rotate and thereby causes said rollers to rotate, means moving said pivotally mounted second roller between a first roller position where said rollers are positioned to receive between the rollers a card when said suction bar is in its second position, comprising an eccentric mounted for rotation on said cam shaft, a follower arm connected on one end to said pivotal link and on the other end having a circular opening therein fitting over said eccentric such that rotation of said eccentric causes oscillation of said second roller between a first roller position where said rotating rollers remove said card from said suction bar in said second suction bar position and a second roller position where the card is released at an angle with respect to the position of the cards in said stack. 

1. A pneumatic handling device comprising frame means, pneumatic means for picking up a relatively thin flat-sided member, such as punch cards, means mounted on the frame means for moving the pick-up means between a first position to pick up sucH a member and a second position to deliver the member with a pause at each position, said moving means including an arm attached to the pick-up means and pivotally attached to the frame for moving the pick-up means between the first and second position as it oscillates about its pivotal axis, said arm having an opening therein spaced from said pivot point, a first cam mounted on the frame for rotation with its peripheral surface to engage opposite sides of the opening in the arm to cause the arm to oscillate and the pick-up means to move between said first and second positions with a pause at each position, as the cam is rotated, means for rotating the cam, and means to remove the member from the pick-up means when the pick-up means is in said second position.
 2. The device of claim 1 which the peripheral surface of said first cam has a section with a relatively long radius of curvature and relatively straight sections on each side thereof so the pick-up means will pause at said first and second positions for the pick-up and removal of the member when the curved section is in engagement with one of the sides of the opening in the arm and will move rapidly to another of said positions when the curved section is moving from engagement with one side of the opening and into engagement with the opposite side.
 3. A pneumatic handling device comprising frame means, pneumatic means for picking up a relatively thin flat-sided member, such as punch cards, means mounted on the frame means for moving the pick-up means between a first position to pick up such a member and a second position to deliver the member with a pause at each position, and means to remove the member from the pick-up means when the pick-up means is in said second position, said member removal means including first and second rollers, means mounting the rollers on the frame means for rotation around their longitudinal axes, means for rotating the rollers in opposite directions around their respective longitudinal axes, said mounting means including means mounting at least one of the rollers for pivotal movement of its longitudinal axis around the longitudinal axis of the other roller, means for moving the pivotally mounted roller between a first roller position where the rollers are positioned to receive between the two rollers a member from the pick-up means when the pick-up means is in its second position and a second roller position to discharge the member from between the rollers in a direction at an angle to the direction of travel of the member when it was first engaged by the rollers.
 4. The device of claim 3 in which said roller moving means includes a second cam, means mounting the second cam for rotation, a follower member operatively engaged with the movable roller and the second cam for causing the roller to move between its first and second positions as the cam is rotated, and means for rotating the second cam to so move the movable roller.
 5. A card handling device for moving cards, such as data processing cards, one at a time from a stack of such cards, comprising two frame sides, a cam shaft mounted on said frame sides for rotation relative thereto around its longitudinal axis, a cam mounted on and rotating with said cam shaft, said cam having a peripheral surface with an arcuate portion having a relatively long radius of curvature with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, an arcuate portion having a relatively short radius of curvature with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and generally straight portions connecting said two arcuate portions, an L-shaped arm positioned between the frame sides with one end mounted to pivot around an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cam shaft, said arm having an opening in which said cam is positioned for its peripheral surface to engage the sides of the opening, a suction bar attached to said L-shaped arm at a location spaced from its pivotal axis to pick up one card from the top of the stack of such cards, meanS for rotating the shaft in order to rotate said cam and oscillate the arm around its pivotal axis to move the suction bar between a first position in engagement with a stack of such cards with a pause in the movement of such arm when in such position that is sufficient to allow the top card to become attached to the suction bar and a second position where the card is removed from the suction bar with a pause in the movement of the bar at said second position, and means for so removing the card, said means comprising a first roller shaft mounted on said frame sides for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said first roller mounted on said first roller shaft for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said first roller shaft, a pivotal link mounted on said first roller shaft in such a manner that said link is pivotal about said first roller shaft longitudinal axis, said frame sides having arcuate slots, a second roller shaft extending through said arcuate slots and through said pivotal link in such a manner that said second roller is pivotal through said arcuate slots about the longitudinal axis of said first roller shaft, a gear mounted on each of said first and second roller shafts in such a manner that rotation of said one of said gears causes the other of said gears to rotate and thereby causes said rollers to rotate, means moving said pivotally mounted second roller between a first roller position where said rollers are positioned to receive between the rollers a card when said suction bar is in its second position, comprising an eccentric mounted for rotation on said cam shaft, a follower arm connected on one end to said pivotal link and on the other end having a circular opening therein fitting over said eccentric such that rotation of said eccentric causes oscillation of said second roller between a first roller position where said rotating rollers remove said card from said suction bar in said second suction bar position and a second roller position where the card is released at an angle with respect to the position of the cards in said stack. 